Harris hammers Trump over abortion stance in final days of race
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Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks during a campaign rally at Shell Energy Stadium on Oct. 25 in Houston, Texas. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris challenged former President Trump's contention that he would not support a national abortion ban, telling CBS News, "I'm too busy watching what he's doing to see what he has said."
The big picture: Abortion, largely a winning issue for Democrats, will be on the ballot in a slew of states across the country. And as the campaign cycle comes to a close, the Democratic ticket is highlighting reproductive rights in their final push for the White House.
- Trump's stance on the procedure — from boasting about appointing the justices who helped overturn Roe to saying certain limits are "too short" — has been largely inconsistent.
- He once signaled he would be in favor of some form of national ban but has recently settled on a leave-it-to-the-states view, going as far as to say he'd veto a ban.
- As Trump has waffled on the issue, Republicans across the country have also attempted to distance themselves from what has been identified as a key vulnerability.
Zoom in: An excerpt of the interview with "CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell aired on CBS "Sunday Morning," Harris said her first priority as president would be to put back in place the protections under Roe and "stop this pain" stemming from state abortion bans.
- Pressed by O'Donnell on Trump's claims that he would strike down a national ban, Harris replied, "Are we really taking his word for it? He said that women should be punished; he's been all over the place on this."
- She continued: "But I'm too busy watching what he's doing to see what he has said."
Zoom out: The Harris campaign has highlighted stories of women across the country impacted by abortion restrictions or bans in the wake of the Dobbs decision.
- A series of recent ads released by the campaign that center around a woman who developed sepsis when she couldn't receive proper treatment after a miscarriage are part of a final push to highlight the risks posed by abortion restrictions.
- "We have seen women who are experiencing a miscarriage around a pregnancy they prayed for ... being denied healthcare because doctors are afraid they're going to go to prison," Harris said to CBS.
- On Saturday, Former First Lady Michelle Obama urged men to prioritize women's healthcare in her first campaign stop alongside the vice president, questioning, "Are you as men prepared to look into the eyes of the women and children you love and tell them you supported this assault on our safety?"
State of play: Asked by O'Donnell if she supports any restrictions on abortion, Harris repeatedly said she backs restoring Roe, which protected the procedure before viability.
Other excerpts from Harris' interview will air tomorrow on "CBS Morning" and "CBS Evening News."
Go deeper: Trump praises overturning Roe v. Wade
